Written question asked by Lord Lansley (Conservative) on Tuesday, 23 November 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 30 November 2004. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Tuesday, 30 November 2004 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps have been taken since 1997 to promote the use of nicotine replacement therapy on the NHS. - Inc table.

Answer: Mr. Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps have been taken since 1997 to promote the use of nicotine replacement therapy on the NHS. [199451] Miss Johnson: We have successfully taken a range of measures to promote the use of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) since 1997, including making all nicotine replacement products available on national health service prescription from April 2001. The effect of these measures is shown in the following table. Number of prescription items and net ingredient cost of NRT products dispensed in the community in England from 1997 to 2003 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Number of prescription items (thousand) Net ingredient cost (£ thousand) 1997 2.4 35.9 1998 14.9 182.8 1999 21.9 395.9 2000 33.9 702.7 2001 651.7 14,425.6 2002 1,168.3 25,462.5 2003 1,297.4 28,520.5 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Source: Prescription cost analysis data from the Prescription Pricing Authority.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 199451; 428 c108-9W
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Costs NHS Medical treatments Prescriptions Smoking Nicotine replacement therapy
Contains statistics: Yes